Archaeologists have uncovered the world's oldest known human fingerprint, dating back approximately 43,000 years, in the San Lázaro rock shelter near Segovia, Spain. This remarkable find is attributed to a Neanderthal individual and offers compelling evidence of their cognitive and artistic capabilities. --- 🧠 Discovery Details Artifact Description: A quartz-rich granite pebble bearing a red ochre dot, intentionally applied by a human fingertip—likely that of an adult male Neanderthal. Symbolic Significance: The pebble's indentations resemble facial features, suggesting that the Neanderthal recognized this and enhanced it with the red pigment, possibly as a form of symbolic or artistic expression. Scientific Analysis: Forensic techniques, including advanced microscopy, confirmed the presence of a human fingerprint and the deliberate application of non-native iron oxide pigment. Cultural Implications: This artifact represents the earliest known example of European portable art and challenges the long-held belief that symbolic artistic expression was exclusive to Homo sapiens